GreenEye Monitor (GEM) PRE-Installation and Setup Questions
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 1:57 pm
Hi folks:
I have a home I'd like to install a BrulTech GreenEye Monitor (GEM). Here's my scenario followed by some questions I'm hoping I can get some answers about. I have 2 main panel breakers (200 amps each) flush mounted within stud bays sitting side by side. I also have a 100 amp sub-panel which is about 70+ feet away from the main panel (following the wire path). Ideally I'd like to monitor circuits from each of the 3 panels (though maybe not every circuit?). I would like to place a GEM in my garage near my 2 main breaker panels. At most, it might be about 15 or 20 feet of CAT5 extension wiring (give or take) to the GEM location from my main panels. However the length from the sub-panel would be 70 or 80+ feet given the path the wires may need to follow. Here are some questions I have around installation, setup and usage.
1) Regarding the donut CTs, what is the length of the CT wire leads?
My 2 main breaker panels are tall (at least 30") while the sub-panel is at least 18". I'm wondering if there would be enough length to splice CAT5 extension cables below the panel or if I could simply splice the CAT5 and CT leads within the panel itself? Outside the box within a separate 2-gang box is probably best, but I'm trying to understand how far away a junction box can be from the panel and still be within reach of those CT wire leads (to splice into a CAT5 wire).
2) How many wires are attached to each CT (e.g. how many wires does it take to monitor each circuit)?
If it's one pair per CT, then it seems I should be able to add up all the circuit positions, multiply by 2 and then add at least 1 extra CAT5 cables for redundancy. Does this sound correct?
3) Is there a CAT5 cable length limitation from the GEM to the panel(s) being monitored (e.g. maximum cable length)?
4) What technology can be used to monitor your GEM device? Is it a wired [ethernet] connection, wireless or are there other options? I have both a wireless router and a Z-Wave network and wondered if connectivity to my Z-Wave network is possible for monitoring?
Thanks
Dave (NetworkGuy)
I have a home I'd like to install a BrulTech GreenEye Monitor (GEM). Here's my scenario followed by some questions I'm hoping I can get some answers about. I have 2 main panel breakers (200 amps each) flush mounted within stud bays sitting side by side. I also have a 100 amp sub-panel which is about 70+ feet away from the main panel (following the wire path). Ideally I'd like to monitor circuits from each of the 3 panels (though maybe not every circuit?). I would like to place a GEM in my garage near my 2 main breaker panels. At most, it might be about 15 or 20 feet of CAT5 extension wiring (give or take) to the GEM location from my main panels. However the length from the sub-panel would be 70 or 80+ feet given the path the wires may need to follow. Here are some questions I have around installation, setup and usage.
1) Regarding the donut CTs, what is the length of the CT wire leads?
My 2 main breaker panels are tall (at least 30") while the sub-panel is at least 18". I'm wondering if there would be enough length to splice CAT5 extension cables below the panel or if I could simply splice the CAT5 and CT leads within the panel itself? Outside the box within a separate 2-gang box is probably best, but I'm trying to understand how far away a junction box can be from the panel and still be within reach of those CT wire leads (to splice into a CAT5 wire).
2) How many wires are attached to each CT (e.g. how many wires does it take to monitor each circuit)?
If it's one pair per CT, then it seems I should be able to add up all the circuit positions, multiply by 2 and then add at least 1 extra CAT5 cables for redundancy. Does this sound correct?
3) Is there a CAT5 cable length limitation from the GEM to the panel(s) being monitored (e.g. maximum cable length)?
4) What technology can be used to monitor your GEM device? Is it a wired [ethernet] connection, wireless or are there other options? I have both a wireless router and a Z-Wave network and wondered if connectivity to my Z-Wave network is possible for monitoring?
Thanks
Dave (NetworkGuy)